Markhale Hart walks into a courtroom in chains for his preliminary hearing in the shooting of Jakell Mitchell on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 in Opelika, Ala. The judge ruled that grand jurors can consider a murder charge against Hart accused of killing Auburn University football player Mitchell at a party in December 2014. The hearing showed the case could come down to who fired first. (AP Photo/Opelika-Auburn News, Todd J. Van Emst)

Shooting suspect Markale Hart enters the courtroom for his arraignment in the Jakell Mitchell shooting on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 in Opelika, Ala. Hart, jailed on a murder charge in the killing of 18-year-old Jakell Lenard Mitchell, remains on probation for burglary, for which he was sentenced to six months in jail, Tallapoosa County District Attorney Paul Jones said Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. "We have filed a motion to revoke his probation based on the new charges," Jones said Monday. (AP Photo/Opelika-Auburn News, Todd J. Van Emst)

This booking photo provided Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 by the Auburn Police Division shows Markale Deandre Hart. Hart, 22, was arrested Sunday as a suspect in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Auburn football player Jakell Lenard Mitchell early Sunday at the Tiger Lodge Apartments in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Auburn Police Division)

Markale Hart of Camp Hill, Ala., is taken into custody for the shooting death of Jakell Lenard Mitchell, an Auburn football player, on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Opelika, Ala. Police Capt. Will Matthews said in an emailed statement that Hart was being held at a county jail and no additional arrests were anticipated. (AP Photo/The Montgomery Advertiser, Albert Cesare)

Markale Hart of Camp Hill, Ala., is taken into custody for the shooting death of Jakell Lenard Mitchell, an Auburn football player, on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Opelika, Ala. Police Capt. Will Matthews said in an emailed statement that Hart was being held at a county jail and no additional arrests were anticipated. (AP Photo/Opelika-Auburn News, Todd J. Van Emst)

Shooting suspect Markale Hart leaves the courtroom after his arraignment in the Jakell Mitchell shooting on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 in Opelika, Ala. Hart, jailed on a murder charge in the killing of 18-year-old Jakell Lenard Mitchell, remains on probation for burglary, for which he was sentenced to six months in jail, Tallapoosa County District Attorney Paul Jones said Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. "We have filed a motion to revoke his probation based on the new charges," Jones said Monday. (AP Photo/Opelika-Auburn News, Todd J. Van Emst)

Markale Hart demonstrates how he returned fire to Jakelll Mitchel during a party in December 2014 killing Mitchel during a hearing where hearing on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 in Opelika, Ala.
Todd J. Van Emst/Opelika-Auburn News/Pool
(Todd Van Emst/tvemst@oanow.com)

Markale Deandre Hart, accused of fatally shooting Auburn football player Jakell Mitchell at an off-campus apartment last year, pleaded not guilty today to murder.

Through his lawyer Jerry Blevins, Hart also waived his scheduled arraignment in Lee County Court. His plea was made in a court filing.

Hart was indicted last month for the crime, which took place last Dec. 14. At around midnight that night, Auburn police found Mitchell in the backseat of a vehicle at the Tiger Lodge apartments suffering from approximately five gunshot wounds. He later died at East Alabama Medical Center.

Hart was arrested later that same morning. He is currently being held in the Limestone Correctional Facility on a parole violation.

Blevins said Hart was acting in self-defense when he shot Mitchell.

"We've seen some of the discovery in this case that was not produced at the preliminary hearing," Hart said. "Primarily the witness statements agree that he was clearly acting in self-defense."

According to testimony at Hart's preliminary hearing, Auburn police claim Mitchell got into an argument with Hart's friend, Tyrone Rowe, during the party.

Hart claimed in his statement to investigators that he was trying to get Rowe to leave the party prior to the shooting. Hart said a man known as "Big D" handed him a gun.

Police say Mitchell exchanged gunfire with Hart at the party. Hart claims, though, that Mitchell fired the first shots.

Hart was on probation for a burglary charge in Tallapoosa County at the time of the homicide.

Trial is set for February of next year, but that likely will be continued. Blevins, however, said "we'll be ready" if it should come that early.